Bag or purse frame.



no. 640,!85. v Patented Jan. 2, I900. B. van EIGEN.

BAG 0R PURSE FRAME.

(Application filed May 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES ATTOR N EY THE NORRIS PEYERS co. uorourncq WASNINOTDN, 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENNO VOM EIGEN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUG; GOERTZ & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

BAG OR PURSE FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,185, dated January 2, 1906.

Application filed May 23, 1899. Serial No. 717,908. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, BENNo VOM EIGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag or Purse Frames; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My presentinvention is in the nature of improvements in metallic frames for purses, bags, and the like, and it relates more particularly to a novel construction of holding or locking means for a frame which is operatively connected with the frame-sections thereof, the same comprising several independently-actuated parts, all of which are combined to finally release the holding jaw or catch of the hinged frame-sections.

This invention therefore has for its primary object to provide a neat and simply-constructed bag or purse frame and a holding or looking latch therefor which is of a strong and durable construction, the several parts being arranged and constructed to produce a trick or puzzle frame which cannot be readily manipulated to open the hinged frame-sections, and therefore affords great amusement.

This invention therefore consists in the novel construction of purse or bag frame and its holding or looking latch hereinafter fully set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

This invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front or side View of a purse or bag frame made according to the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a face view of the inner portion of one of the frame-sections provided with my novel arrangement and construction of operating mechanism for retaining the holding-latch in its inoperative position. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the two frame-sections on an enlarged scale, illustrating the working parts in their operated positions to permit the holding or looking catch to be actuated for the separation of the two frame-sections. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the parts represented in Fig. 2, but illustrating the several parts of the operating mechanism in their actuated positions to allow the holding or looking catch to be actuated for the separation of the two frame-sections. Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spring plate or device employed in connection with the mechanism embodying the principles of my invention, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of a pair of sliding bolts employed with the parts represented in said Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the said above-described views to indioate corresponding parts.

In said drawings, a and a indicate a pair of frame-sections which are pivotally connected at their lower end portions 0. in the usual manner by means of suitable pins or rivets b, a spring I) being employed with one of said pins 6, having its ends pressing against the inwardlyextending sides or flanges a and a of the respective frame-sections CL and a to cause said frames to move on their pivotal connections, and thereby open the frame, when the holding or looking catch, to be hereinafter described, is operated. As will be noticed from the several figures of the drawings, the said sides or flanges a and a of the two frame-sections are provided with suitably-disposed holes or perforations a for properly securing in position by means of pins or rivets o in the framesection a an inlay c and by means of pins or rivets c in the frame-section a an inlay c, said pins or rivets being arranged in said perforations Q5 in the frame-sections and in correspondingly-placed perforations or holes in each inlay, whereby the material g of the bag orpurse is securelyheld in place between said parts, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Fig. 5. As represented in said Fig. 5, the inlay c has a shoulder a and an upwardly-extending portion 0 whereby the upper portion of said inlay a, when arranged in position in the frame-section a and ioo secured therein by means of the pins or rivets 0 forms with said frame-section a a suitable chamber a".

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the outersurface of each frame-section is preferably ornamented with a floral design, which is usually struck up in the metal, and the frame-section a has in its side a a pair of holes a, which form the center of a rose or other flower. Suitably secured against the inner surface of said side a by means of rivets d or in any other suitable manner, is a spring-plate (I, having the oppositely-extending end portions 61 and d respectively, provided with the upwardly-extending teats or projections d and (Z Secured to each end portion (1 and d respectively, by means of clamping-tongues d or other suitable means, are a pair of knobs d and (1 which normally extend into said holes a in the frame-section afrom the inner surface of the side a and are preferably ornamented in such a manner as to form an essential part of the ornamentation on the outer surface of the frame-section a,whereby it willbe difficult for the uninitiated to detect that said knobs OZ and d are movably arranged in said holes a and form finger-pieces for pushing the respective end portions d and d of the spring-plate d away from the inner surface of the side a of the frame-section a.

In the upper portion a of the frame-section a, as will be seen from Fig. 4, Ihave arranged three slots 0. a", and a Slidably arranged against the undersurface of the portion a are a pair of bolts 6 and e, each bolt, as will be seen more especially from Fig. 7, consisting of the parts 6 and a which are formed at right angles to each other, so as to conform to the cross-section of the frame-section a, and each part 6 having a suitable projection e, substantially as illustrated. Each part a is also provided with an upwardlyextending post a the said posts 6 of the respective bolts 6 and 6 being respectively arranged in the slots at and a and extending entirely therethrough, so as to project above the upper portion a of the frame-section. Each post 6 has a pair of offsets e", forming shoulders, onto which can be arranged a knob or push-piece e the portion e on each post 6 being passed through a slot or opening e in the push-piece e and clenched, substantially as illustated in Fig. 5. From an inspection more especially of Fig. 4 it will be seen that by this arrangement the two bolts 6 and e are slidably arranged within the frame-section a, with the said projections 6 extending toward each other. Normally the said bolts (2 and e are immovably arranged within said frame-section a by having the teats or projections d and d of the respective arm portions d and d3 of the spring-plate d against the ends of the said bolts and in holding engagement with such ends, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3; but when the said knobs (1 and d are pushed inward then said arm portions d and d are distorted and the teats or projections are forced laterally away from their holding engagement with the ends of the said bolts e and e and the bolts can be made to slide in the opposite directions. (Indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.) As illustrated in said Fig. 2, I have secured against the inner surface of the side a of the framesection a, by means of a pin or rivet f, a spring bar or arm f, which is provided at its free end portion directly beneath the slot a in the part a of the frame-section a with a pair of offsets f and f and a lipf having an opening f The normal tendency of said spring bar or armfis in an upward direction, whereby the projections e on the bolts 6 and Q can be brought directly beneath said offsets f and f thereby retaining said springbar in its immovable position. The said free end portion of said bar has an upwardly-extending postf, preferably provided with a lip f to come in contact with the under surface of the part a of the frame-section to limit the upward movement of said spring-arm f. The said post f extends into said slot at and projects above the frame-section 0., having secured upon its free end a knob or fingerpiece f fastened thereon in a manner similar to the manner of fastening the knobs e of the bolts 6 and c.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the framesection a is provided with a downwardly-extending nosing a, which can be'forced over the lip f of the spring-arm f into holding engagement with the opening f no matter what position the bolts 6 and e are in, whereby when the frame-sections a and a are closed upon each other the said sections will be retained in their closed positions, as will be clearly understood.

When the several parts hereinabove described are in the positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, then the spring-armfis immovably held in the position represented, and it isimpossible to open the frame-sections a and a; but when the bolts e and e are pushed back in the direction of the arrows in said Fig. 2 in the manner hereinabove described then the projections e of said bolts e and e are withdrawn from their holding engagement with the offsets f and f of the spring-arm f and said arm f can be depressed, when a downward pressure is applied to the knob or finger-piece f thereby causing the disengagement of the nosing a on the frame-section a from its holding contact with the edge of the opening f in said armfand allowing the spring I) hereinabove mentioned to perform the opening of the two frame-sections CL and a.

From the above description of the arrangement of the several parts of the looking or holding mechanism and an inspection of the figures of the drawings it will be evident that I may dispense with the employment of one of said sliding bolts; but I prefer to use two bolts, as e and e, as thereby greater judginent must be exercised in manipulating the parts, whereby greater pleasure and amusement are afforded. Furthermore, a stronger construction of locking mechanism is thereby also provided. The construction of the several parts is very simple, cheap, and neat, is operative, and the parts can be readily manipulated when the operator is once initiated in the movements of the parts.

I am aware that changes may be made in the several arrangements and combinations of the several parts, as well as in the details of the construction thereof, without departing from the scope of my present invention. Hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the parts as herein shown and described, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. In a bag or purse frame, the combination, with a pair of fra-1ne-sections,one of said framesections being provided with a hole or holes in the side thereof, and having longitudinally-arranged slots in the top, of a longitudinally-sliding bolt or bolts in said framesection, a knob on said bolt or bolts, arranged above the slots in said frame-section, a vertically-moving springbar or armin said f ram csection, with which said bolt or bolts are normally in engagement to hold said spring bar or arm in its immovable position, a springplate secured against the inner side of said frame-section, for retaining said bolt or bolts normally in fixed positions, and means connected with said spring-plate, extending into said hole or holes in the side of said framesection, for actuating said spring-plate to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts and disengage said bolt or bolts from holding engagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In abag or purse frame,the combination, with apair of frame-sections,one of said fram esections being provided with a hole or holes in the side thereof, and having longitudinally-arranged slots in the top, of a longitudinally-sliding bolt or bolts in said framesection, a knob on said bolt or bolts, arranged above the slots in said frame-section, a vertically-moving spring bar or arm in said framesection, with which said bolt or bolts are normally in engagementto hold said spring bar or arm in its immovable position, a springplate secured against the inner side of said frame-section, for retaining said bolt or bolts normally in fixed positions, and a laterallyextending knob or knobs connected with said spring-plate, extending into said hole or holes in the side of said frame-section, for actuating said spring-plate to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts and disengage said bolt or bolts from holding engagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In abag orpurse frame,the combination,

in said frame-section, an upwardly-extending post on said spring bar or arm arranged in one of the said slots in said frame-section and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post, a projection on said bolt or bolts normally in engagement with said spring bar or arm to hold it in its immovable position, a spring-plate secured against the inner side of said frame-section, an upwardly-extending teat or project-ion on one or both ends of said plate normally in holding engagement with said bolt or bolts for retaining the same normally in fixed positions, and means connected with said springplate, extendinginto said hole or holes in the side of said frame-section, for actuating said spring plate to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts and disengage said bolt or bolts from holding engagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a bag or purse frame, the combination,

with a pair of frame-sections,one of said framesections being provided with a hole or holes in the side thereof, and having longitudinallyarranged slots in the top, of a longitudinallysliding bolt or bolts in said frame-section, an upwardly-extendin g poston said boltor bolts, slidably arranged in said slots and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post or posts, a verticallymoving spring bar or arm in said frame-section, an upwardly extending post on said spring bar or arm arranged in one of the said slots in said frame-section and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post, a projection on said bolt or bolts normally in engagement with said spring bar or arm to hold it in its immovable position, a spring-plate secured against the inner side of said frame-section, an upwardlyextending teat or projection on one or both ends of said plate normally in holding en-' gagement with said bolt or bolts for retaining the same normally in fixed positions, and a laterally-extending knob or knobs connected with said spring-plate, extending into said hole or holes in the side of said frame-section, for actuating said spring-plate to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts from holding engagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a bag or purse frame, the combination, with a pair of frame-sections a and a, said frame-section a having a nosing or hook, and said frame-section a being provided with a hole or holes in the side thereof, and having longitudinally-arranged slots in the top thereof, of a longitudinally-sliding bolt or bolts in said frame-section, an upwardly-extending post on said bolt or bolts, slidably arranged in said slots and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post or posts, a vertically-moving spring bar or arm in said frame-section having an opening f and a lip, with which said nosing or hook on the frame-section a is in normal holding engagement, an upwardly-extendin g post on said spring bar or arm arranged in one of the slots in said frame-section a, and projecting above the upper surface of said framesection, a knob on said post, a projection on said bolt or bolts normally in engagement with said spring bar or arm to hold it in its immovable position, a releasing device in said framesection a, for retaining said bolt or bolts normally in fixed positions, and means on said releasing device extending into said hole or holes in the side of said frame-section, for actuating said releasing device to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts, and disengage said bolt or bolts from holding en gagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a bag or purse frame,the combination, with a pair of frame-sections a and a, said frame-section to having a nosing or hook, and said frame-section a being provided with a hole or holes in the side thereof, and having longitudinally-arranged slots in the top thereof, of a longitudinally-sliding bolt or bolts in said frame-section, an upwardly-extending post on said bolt or bolts, slidably arranged in said slots and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post or posts, a vertically-moving spring bar or arm in said frame-section having an opening f and a lip, with which said nosing or hook on the frame-section a is in normal holding engagement, an upwardly-extending post on said spring bar or arm arranged in one of the slots in said frame-section a and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post, a projection on said bolt or bolts normally in engagement with said spring bar or arm to hold it in its immovable position, a spring-plate secured against the inner side of said frame-section a, an upwardly-extending teat or projection on one or both ends of said plate normally in holding engagement with said bolt or bolts for retaining the same normally in fixed positions, and means connected with said spring-plate, extending into said hole or holes in the side of said frame-section, for actuating said springplate to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts and disengage said bolt or bolts from holding engagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a bag or purse frame,the combination, with a pair of frame-sections, a and a, said frame-section at having a nosing or book, and said frame-section abein g provided with ahole or holes in the side thereof, and havinglongitudinally-arranged slots in the top thereof, of a longitudinally-sliding bolt or bolts in said frame-section, an upwardly-extending post on said bolt or bolts, slidably arranged in said slots and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post or posts,a Vertically-moving spring bar or arm in said frame-section having an opening f and a lip, with which said nosing or hook on the frame-section a is in normal holding engagement, an upwardly-extending post on said spring bar or arm arranged in one of the slots in said frame-section a and projecting above the upper surface of said frame-section, a knob on said post, a projection on said bolt or bolts normally in engagement with said spring bar or arm to hold it in its immovable position, a spring-plate secured against the inner side of said frame-section a, an upwardly-extending teat or projection on one or both ends of said plate normally in holding engagement with said bolt or bolts for retaining the same normally in fixed positions, and a laterally extending knob or knobs connected with said spring-plate, extending into said hole or holes in the side of said framesection a, for actuating said spring-plate to permit of a sliding motion of said bolt or bolts and disengage said bolt or bolts from holding engagement with said spring bar or arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A bag or purse frame, comprising a pair of hinged frame-sections, having an ornamented surface, one of said frame-sections having a hole or holes in its side, a looking or holding mechanism in said frame-sections, a spring-plate d in said frame section, and a knob or knobs on said plate, extending into and operatively arranged in said hole or holes in the side of the frame-section,said knob or knobs having an ornamentation corresponding to the ornamentation in the side of the frame-section and forming a part thereof, so as to conceal the opening or openings in the side of the frame-section,substantiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of May, 1899.

BENNO VOM EIGEN.

Witnesses:

FREDK. O. FRAENTZEL, WALTER H. TALMAGE. 

